Development Diary #1: Farming

Greeting Shopkeepers!

Welcome to the first dev diary for Sugardew Island! We will be releasing diaries to keep folks up to date with our plans and announcements!

Today, we’re diving into one of the most fundamental aspects of our cozy farming game: The Farming! From tilling the soil to harvesting your crops, every farming mechanic has been carefully designed to ensure a relaxing, pressure-free experience while maintaining the charm and satisfaction of a well-run farm.

Tilling: Preparing the Soil

Before you can plant your crops, you’ll need to till the soil. Using your trusty hoe, you can prepare patches of land to make them ready for planting. Sugardew Island uses tiles, so it is easy to work with and aesthetically pleasing, so this process is quick and effortless—perfect for casual play sessions. With tool upgrades, you can till multiple tiles at once, making farming even smoother!

Planting: Sowing the Seeds

Once your soil is prepared, it’s time to plant your seeds! You can purchase a variety of seeds from Trader Tomte, each with its own growing time and selling price. You can watch these plants grow overtime, at your own pace, as there’s no deadlines or rush to get them ready!

Watering: Keeping Your Crops Happy

Just like in classic farming games, your crops need water to thrive. Every morning, you’ll grab your watering can and tend to your plants to ensure steady growth. Over time, you can upgrade your watering can to cover more tiles at once, making large-scale farming more convenient.

Fertilizing: Boosting Your Harvest

To get the most out of your crops, you can craft and apply fertilizer. Fertilizer speeds up growth. You can gather ingredients for fertilizer by composting weeds and other natural resources found on the island. This system encourages players to explore and use every resource efficiently, also you can craft from your chest - because we know how important that is!!

Harvesting: Reaping the Rewards

After days of patient care, it’s time to harvest your crops! Crops can either be sold directly in your farm shop, used in Harmony Tree quests, or even processed into other goods to sell at higher prices.

Final Thoughts

We designed farming in Sugardew Island to be relaxing and rewarding, ensuring that every step—from tilling to harvesting—feels smooth, cozy, and fulfilling. We’ve got more to show, now that those fundamentals are down, next time we’ll be showing off the economics and shopkeeping!

Thank you for your support 💓 Team rokaplay